VOLUME SIX

ABOUT THE ALBUM

Pool hangs, warm beach breezes, a cold beer in hand, and bright city lights are all visions of summer, and this is exactly what the Los Angeles-based duo Kisses are all about. What you have in your hands is an ode to better times. “Rest in Paradise” is a clever spin on “Rest in Peace” and is a testament to living in the moment. Every song from married couple Jesse Kivel and Zinzi Edmundson, reads like an open love letter, not only to each other, but to the warmer parts of our hearts. Their infectious 70’s pop hooks swirl with optimism and bright-eyed wonder. Earnest to the core, Kivel and Edmundson’s disco-pop prowess speaks to love without cynicism, youth without awkwardness and summer without an end in sight.

Rest in Paradise strikes a balance between dance-filled grooves and a general moodiness, held steady with complex lyricism.

If their albums followed the lineage of a courtship, their debut album The Heart of the Nightlife would be the first date, their sophomore release, Kids in L.A. would be the first time they say “I love you,” Other Planets would be the newly-wed honeymoon phase, finally leading up to Rest in Paradise, where love, parenthood and comfort reign throughout every note. The modern production of this album gives a great dynamic to the vintage funk and disco influences that color the music so richly.

With Kivel’s confident guitar work and strong bass grooves paralleling Edmundson’s lush synth layers, the two create one unified heartbeat in their expressive sound. Their music landed them as #40 on NME’s 50 Best Bands of 2010, and they have been unanimously praised from the likes of Pitchfork, Allmusic and Metacritic. The Brooklyn Vegan kindly acknowledged the band’s “nod to Talking Heads” while The 405 recommends this album as “your new Friday night jam.” Kisses writes love songs that speak to the curious youth within all of us, and encourages us to return to our more carefree days. It’s good to know those days are always there.

Featured in your Listening Hour experience is a collection of hand-curated goods and indulgences to pair with the record, presenting a full-sensory listening experience. Our team has scoured the planet for inspirations, carefully selecting and sourcing each element to pair with the record and it's sounds — complimentary effects you can touch, feel, taste, and smell — enhancing your listening experience. We like to imagine if Ray Dolby was doing acid while inventing all of his sound technologies during the 60's and 70's, he may have come up with something like The Listening Hour.

This song mixes all the right ingredients for a catchy groove and your time on the beach. The low, warm bass thumps with a steady pulse, while the disco-fueled drums will get you moving. Upbeat guitars play off each each other and present a comforting melody that will keep you coming back. Only positive vibes here, so let the sun shine in.